Coupling



C. DRAKE May 11 1926.

COUPLING Filed May/L, 1925 Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES BRAKE, 0F MANNING'ION, WEST VIRGINIA.

ooUPLING.

Application filed May 4.1925. seriai no. 27,971.

This invention relates to couplings.l and more particularly to a coupling adapted for use in securing the adjacent sections ot derrick posts or legs to each other.

In the present invention, I provide a plate to which the ends of the girths and posts are adapted to be secured, and Awhich is provided with an opening for the reception of a plug or member that is adapted to be received in the ends of the adjacent leg sections.

An object of the invention is the provision ot a coupling that can be quickly and easily assembled.

A further object is to provide a coupling in which a horizontal brace is provided that is secured to the girths adjacent their ends to add to the strength of the derrick or tower structure.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a four-sided tower or derrick showing the invention applied, f

Figure 2 is al horizontal sectional view through the coupling in assembled position,

Figure 3 is a detail erspective view of the coupling disassembled; and,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the legs of a derrick of the usual construction, which legs are formed in sections and connected to each other by horizontal girths or struts 2, and diagonal braces 3. The leg sections are adapted to be connected to each other by means of the coupling forming the subject matter of the present invention.

In forming the coupling, I provide a plate 4 having an opening 5 and being provided with a pair of tongues or extensions 6. These extensions are provided with a plurality of openings 7. As shown, (see Figure 2) the ends of the girths are liattened, as at 8, and these attened end portions are arranged over the extension 6 and provided with open-A ings adapted to aline with the openings 7. The diagonal braces 3 extend from one coupling on one leg at an angle to the next coupling on the adjacent leg. The ends of these braces are oli'set, as at 9, and threaded. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the oil"- set ends of the braces are adapted to be passed through the openings 7 and nuts are then arranged on the threaded portions of these ends. In the drawings, I haveV shown the extensions 6 each provided with three openings, and the upwardly and downwardly extending braces are passed through two of these openings and a bolt 10 passed through the remaining opening.

The opening 5 in the plate is shaped to correspond to the cross section of the derrick legs and a plug 11 is adapted to be received in this opening and extend on each side ofy the plate to be received in the adjacent ends of the leg sections. As shown, this plug is provided with a slot or groove 12 adapted 70 to receive a lug 13 carried by the plate extending into the opening 5. The slot or groove 12 extends substantially half the length of the plug so that when the lug rides upwardly in the slot or groove, it will retain half of the plug on each side of the plate to be received in the adjacent leg section.

For the purpose of adding additional strength to the derrick or tower structure, the plate may be provided with another arm or extension 14 arranged between the extensions 6. This arm is provided with an elongated slot 15. A brace 16 is adapted to be arranged across the corner of the derrick in a horizontal plane and is secured to the arm 14 by a bolt 17, passing through the slot 15. Adjacent each end, this brace is provided with a pair of openings adapted to receive the ends of a U-bolt 18, which extends around the girth. Nuts 19 may be arranged on the projecting ends of the U-bolt.

In assembling the coupling, the plug 11 is Erst inserted in the opening 5 and the portions of the plug projecting on each side of the plate are received in the adjacent sections of the leg l. The girths are then arranged in position and the ends of the braces passed through the openings 6. Where more than two openings are provided, bolts 10 are 100 passed through the remaining openings and when nuts are arranged on the bolts and the ends of the braces, the post or leg is held in position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Y

I claim:

l. A coupling for derrick legs or the like comprising` a plate having an opening therein, a member adapted to be received in Said opening` and project on opposite sides ofv said plate, and a pair of horizontal exten-` sions formed on said plate to which the ends of the girtlis and braces are adapted to be secured.

2. A coupling for d errick legs. orV the like, comprising a` platey having an` opening therein, a lug formed on saidy plate and extend.-v` ing` into said opening, a member adapted; to be received in said opening and engage said lng to permit a portiony ot said member to,

project on said side of said plate, and a pair of extensions formed on sai d plate to. which the endsof the girtlis and braces are adapted to b e secured. l

3. A coupling' for derrick lege or the like comprisingA a plate having an opening therein, ay lng formed on said plate and extending into said opening, a. member adapted to be received in said opening, said member being provided With a groove extending from one end to an intermediate point and adapted to receive said lug whereby a portion. of said member Will project on each side of said plate, and a pair of extensions formed on said plate to which the ends of the girths and bracesu are adapted to be Se- Cured,-

ik., Av coupling.` for derrick legs or the like comprising a plate havingV an opening there,- in, a member adapted, to be received in said opening and extend on opposite sides of said plate, a pair of extensions. :formed on said, plate to which the girths and braces of thederrick are adapted to be secured, an arm secured tQ said plate and arranged between said extensions, and abrace connected to said arm and to the adjacent glrths.

lntestlmony \vhe1'eof, 1aflix my signature. 

